Europe's Electrification Push Requires Faster Grid Investment, ENTSO-E Warns

Europe's transition towards a more electrified economy will require significantly faster investment in electricity networks, greater system flexibility and shorter connection times, according to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, ENTSO-E.

In its position on the European Commission's Electrification Action Plan, ENTSO-E welcomed the recognition of electrification as an important driver of European decarbonisation, economic competitiveness and energy security.

However, the organisation warned that expanding the use of electric vehicles, heat pumps, industrial electrification, data centres and electrolysers will place additional pressure on Europe's electricity infrastructure.

Three priorities for Europe's electricity system. ENTSO-E identified three essential conditions for the success of the European electrification strategy:

• Faster investment in transmission infrastructure, supported by adequate financing and stronger European supply chains.
• Greater flexibility across electricity generation, consumption, energy storage and grid operation.
• Better management of connection requests to reduce delays for consumers and new energy projects.

ENTSO-E places the grid among the essential pillars of a competitive, secure and sustainable Europe: every electric vehicle, heat pump and newly electrified industrial process depends on a resilient, affordable and flexible power system.

More than half of key grid projects still awaiting permits. Permitting remains one of the largest obstacles to the development of Europe's electricity infrastructure. According to ENTSO-E, more than half of the transmission projects required by 2030 are still waiting for permits.

Faster and clearer approval procedures will therefore be necessary if Europe wants to connect new renewable-energy capacity, industrial consumers and storage installations on time.

ENTSO-E also supports the introduction of an indicative European electrification target for 2040. Such a target could provide greater certainty for governments, grid operators and investors, while allowing individual countries to choose their own implementation pathways.

Electricity networks at the centre of Europe's energy transition. Europe's transmission networks will need to balance increasingly variable renewable generation with growing electricity demand. Cross-border infrastructure, smart charging, vehicle-to-grid solutions, storage and demand response are expected to become increasingly important.

ENTSO-E says future policies must coordinate sector-specific electrification plans with electricity-grid development. Without sufficient investment, faster permitting and supportive regulation, large-scale electrification could be delayed and place additional pressure on the European power system.

Source: ENTSO-E — Delivering on the Electrification Action Plan. Cross-border flows, live, on the map of Europe.